Composite floor structure and reinforcing, aligning and mortar gaging mat assembly therefor



' Sept. 15, 1964 .1. D. NEALE' 3,148,432

' COMPOSITE FLOOR STRUCTURE AND-REINFORCING, ALIGNING AND MORTAR GAGINGMAT ASSEMBLY THEREFOR S Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. .14, 1958 INVENT ORJoH/v 0. Name Sept. 15, 1964 J. D. NEALE 3,148,482

COMPOSITE FLOOR STRUCTURE AND REINFORCING. ALIGNING AND MORTAR GAGINGMAT ASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed Oct. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Joy/v 0. New6 BY M 9' 7%4/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 15, 1964 J. D. NEALE 3,148,482

COMPOSITE FLOOR STRUCTURE AND REINFORCING, ALIGNING AND MORTAR (meme MATASSEMBLY THEREFOR Filed Oct. 14, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jo/m d A mw 7' BY7 M%Zw% ATTORNEYS 3,148,482 Patented Sept. 15., 1964 3,148,482 COMPOSITEFLQGR STRUCTURE AND REINFORC- ING, ALIGNING AND MORTAR GAGING MATASSEMBLY THEREFOR John D. Neale, 63.7 Common St, New Orleans, La. FiledOct. 14, 1958, Ser. No. 767,47 14 Claims. (Cl. 50343) This inventionrelates to improvements in composite floor structures and is moreparticularly concerned with a metallic mounting assembly for supportingand positioning a planar exposed floor surface of preformed paving orflooring units and for the structural reinforcement of the mortarsetting bed provided therefor.

In building flooring and patio and other outdoor paving constructions,the employment of preformed flooring units such as tile and brick toprovide a finished floor has been widely used by architects and buildingconstruction industries. This type of floor structure is generallycomposite, comprising a mortar bed setting upon which the preformedflooring units are positioned and arranged in various patterns to form afinished floor surface. The present invention is primarily concernedwith such types of floor structures.

In the past, the construction of composite floor structures utilizingpreformed flooring units for a finished surface has required highlyskilled workmanship to achieve a finished product that is presentable,neat and serviceable. Extensive time is consumed and exceptional skillis required in leveling the individual tiles or brick and also inpositioning and aligning the preformed units to provide for straight andneat appearing mortar lines between adjacent units. The cost of suchfloor structures is consequently high, often precluding the moderatelyfixed property owner from such an undertaking.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a wire matassembly comprising a wire mesh and spacer supports to space thepreformed flooring units at a predetermined distance above the basecourse or subfloor so that they provide a level surface, to properlyposition and align the flooring units so as to form straight uniformmortar joints, and to reinforce the mortar setting bed. Thus, with thepresent invention, walks, patios, terraces and other floors may beconstructed without the requisite of skilled workmanship and at amoderate cost to the builder.

With foregoing considerations and purposes in mind, therefore, it is afurther major object of this invention to provide a novel mat structurefor use in the construction of composite floors, which obviates thenecessity of manually leveling, positioning and aligning preformedflooring or paving units in order to form a level floor surface withuniform mortar joints between adjacent units.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for a novelcomposite floor embodying a mat structure which positions and alignspreformed flooring or paving units which comprise the exposed surface ofthe floor to form a level floor surface with straight uniform mortarjoints.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel matstructure embodying a rod-like mesh for reinforcing the mortar settingbed of a composite floor structure and for concomitantly supportingpreformed flooring units which form the exposed finish floor surface.

It is further the object of this invention to provide in a compositefloor structure having individual preformed flooring units forming theexposed floor surface, a novel mat structure wherein flooring unitspacers support a reinforcing mesh of the mat in predetermined spacedrelationship above the base course.

It is a further object of this invention to provide for a novel mortarbed reinforcing mat structure for supporting preformed floor slabs ortiles in uniform spaced relation to permit the introduction of a body ofcementing mortar between the slabs or tiles.

It is further the object of this invention to provide for use in acomposite floor a novel mat structure which enables the unskilled workerto construct a finish floor surface of preformed flooring units which isneat and presentable in appearance.

It is still another object of this invention to provide for a novel matstructure which is simple in construction and comparatively inexpensiveto manufacture.

Further objects of the invention will presently appear as thedescription proceeds in connection with the appended claims and theannexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view illustrating a composite floor structureaccording to the preferred embodiment of the invention and showing thepreformed flooring units of the finished floor surface in dot-dashoutline form.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 22 of FIGURE1.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a section of the matassembly in the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 and showingthe preformed flooring units in solid outline form.

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view illustrating a composite floor structureaccording to a further embodiment of the invention and showing thepreformed flooring units of the finished floor surface in phantomoutline form.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along lines 55 ofFIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the mat assembly in theembodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a top plan view illustrating a further pattern of thepreformed flooring units of the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4-6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary section of the composite floor construction inperspective showing the mat structure according to another embodiment ofthe invention.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary section of the composite floor construction inperspective showing the mat structure according to another embodiment ofthe invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURES 13, acomposite floor is illustrated which is generally designated at 16 andcomprises a mortar setting bed 12 spread over a base course,conventional form board support or sub-floor 14'. Planar preformedflooring units 16 forming the finished flooring surface are bedded inthe mortar bed 12, arranged and positioned to form patterns such as theside by side pattern (FIG- URE l) or other patterns such as a basketweave or a herringbone. For indoor floors and outdoor pavements andwalks, the preformed units 16 may be shaped from such material as quarrytile (clay tile impervious to water), cement tile, bricks, brick pavers,precast terrazzo, or cut stone and fiagstone cut from marble, granite ortravertine.

In accordance with the present invention and with continued reference toFIGURES 1-3, a mat assembly is there illustrated and is generallydesignated at 18. This assembly comprises a mortar bed reinforcing meshstructure 20 and vertically standing aligner-spacers 22. The reinforcingmesh structure 20 is associated with the aligner-spacers 22 to set inthe mortar setting bed 12 with the lower series of mesh wires preferably4 inch below the surface of the mortar bed, the upper surface of whichis gauged by the upper series of mesh wires. The wire mesh is thuslocated in spaced relation to the base course 14 and is composed ofstraight parallel runner wires 24 spaced equally apart and equallyspaced apart straight parallel cross wires 26 extending transversely andpreferably in overlying relation to the runner wires and joined theretoby welding or other suitable means to form a uniform mesh network ofequal square areas. These wires 24 and 26 are preferably rod-likemembers and are illustrated to have a cylindrical cross-section. Otherbars, however, of different cross-sectional area which are commonly usedfor reinforcing concrete may alternately be employed. The rod-like wires24 and 26 are of suitable gauge to insure the necessary rigidity andstrengthening of the bed and are preferably knurled to provide anincreased interlocking bond strength between the rods and the mortar.

Each of the aligner-spacers 22 comprises a single piece of rod-like wirein the form of a U and providing a pair of elongated substantiallyparallel legs 28 of equal length and a curved portion 30 integrallyconnecting the legs (FIGURE 3). The aligner-spacers are disposed in aninverted position with the legs 28 straddling the juncture of the runnerand cross wires and respectively joined to the mesh 20 by welding orother suitable means at a predetermined distance from each free end ofthe legs. One aligner-spacer is employed at each intersection of therunner wires 24 and the cross wires 26 to assure uniform spacing of thewire mesh from the base course 14 and automatic gauging of the mortarbed thickness. Thus, the mesh 20 is supported and uniformly spaced abovethe base course 14 by the aligner-spacers 22 at a distance determined bythe point of attachment of the spacer to the rodlike cross wires 26 andthe rod-like runner wires 24 as it straddles the intersection thereof.

The curved portion 30 which defines the upper extremity of the spacer 22projects above the horizontal plane of the mesh 20, is positionedtransversely to the length of the mortar joint to be formed and abutsthe opposed sides 31 of adjacent preformed flooring units 16. In thismanner, the upper extremities of aligner-spacers constitute pocketforming means in that they align and position the preformed units 16laid on the mortar bed 12 and pressed into supported relation with theuppermost wires of the mesh 20 to gauge the plane of the floor surfaceand form straight mortar joints of uniform width between adjacent units.To form a mortar joint of narrower width, the spacer may be rotated 90in either direction to straddle either the runner wire 24 or the crosswire 26.

In the construction of a composite floor with the present invention, themat assembly 18 is placed on the base course 14 with the free ends ofaligner-spacer legs 28 abutting the level surface of the base course.The reinforcing mesh structure being supported by the aligner-spacers 22at a uniform distance above the surface of the base course 14 determinesthe depth of the mortar bed. The mortar then is poured and spread overthe base course to the prescribed height, namely, the level of the uppersurface of the uppermost mesh wires assuring embedding of the lowermostwires about /41 inch in the mortar bed and partial embedding of theupper wires and allowing the upper extremity only of the spacers 22 toproject above the spread surface of the mortar bed. In some instances,depending upon working conditions the mortar bed may be poured first andthe mat assembly subsequently pressed into it. In such usage any excessmortar must be scraped otf at the high spots and moved to the low spotsthereby assuring the gauged mortar bed thickness.

Since the reinforcing mesh 20 is substantially level or graduallyinclined or curved to fit the contour of the underlying base course, thepreformed flooring units which are laid in the mortar bed and rest onthe cross wires 26 of the mesh 20 will also be level and generallypresent a surface conforming to that of the prepared base course. Thusthe necessity of leveling out the flooring units as they are placed inthe mortar setting bed in a conventional composite floor construction isobviated since the supporting cross wires 26 will automatically gaugethe penetration of the flooring units and assure a firm backing by themortar bed as well as a top surface of the flooring units parallel withthe mesh. In placing the flooring units in the bed, they are positionedbetween the upper extremities 30 of the aligner-spacers 22 which projectabove the surface of the setting bed and abut all the sides of eachflooring unit to pocket it in position thereby aligning and positioningeach flooring unit with its adjacent units so as to form straightuniform mortar joints on each side thereof to be filled to the level ofthe planar exposed surface of the flooring units. Thus, the necessity ofthe skill and experience involved in lining up and leveling flooringunits and positioning them to obtain a neat and presentable finish floorsurface is not required and the work may be accomplished by those havingcomparatively little ability and experience in building floors of thistype.

Referring now to FIGURES 46, the composite floor illustrated therein issubstantially identical with the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1-3,with the exception of the mat structure. Thus, with continued referenceto FIGURES 4-6, 34 designates the mat structure comprising a series ofelongated, parallel runner wires 36 and a series of elongated, parallelcross wires 38 extending transversely to the runner wires to form auniform mesh of equal square areas. Similar to the embodimentillustrated in FIGURES 1-3, the wires 36 and 38 are shown to be knurledrods having a substantially cylindrical cross-section. Othercross-sectional forms, however, which are commonly used in concretereinforcement may be alternately employed.

In order to support the mat 34 in spaced relation to the base course 14,the runner wires 36 are provided with a series of base-engaging, equallyspaced apart vertically standing U-bends 40. The runner wires 36 furtherare provided with a series of inverted U-bends 42 spaced equally apartbetween every other U-bend 40 to align and position the preformedflooring units in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of therunner wires. The cross wires 38 are supported in the horizontal planeof the runner wires between the U-bends 40 where they are joined bywelding or other suitable means to prevent longitudinal elongation ofthe runner wires by spreading of the U-bends 40 under the weight of themat. The cross wires 38 are also provided with a series of inverted U-bends 44 spaced equally apart, one between adjacent pair of runner wiresto align and position the flooring units 16 in a direction parallel tothe longitudinal axis of the runner wires 36.

Since the runner wires 36 and the cross wires 38 are in the same planethe preformed flooring units 16 are consequently supported by bothseries of reinforcing wires 36 and 38 in this form of the invention andthe mortar bed thickness is gauged by both sets of wires. Referring toFIGURE 4, each preformed flooring unit 16 is illustrated as supported byone runner wire 36 spaced equidistantly from the sides of the unit thatare parallel to the runner wire. Extending transversely of the runnerwire 36, each flooring unit 16 is supported by two cross wires 38 spacedequidistantly between the near parallel sides of the flooring unit andthe center thereof. Thus, a total of four inverted U-bends 44 areprovided to align and position each preformed flooring unit 16 in onedirection while two inverted U-bends 42 are provided to align andposition each flooring unit in a direction transverse thereto.

With continued reference to FIGURES 4-6, the construction of thecomposite floor illustrated therein is substantially the same as thatpreviously described in reference to the embodiment of FIGURES 1-3. Themat assembly is set on the base course and mortar is then poured andspread to a desired height determined by the plane defined by the uppersurfaces of both the runner wires 36 and cross wires 38 therebyembedding the wires 36 and 38 in the setting bed with the upwardlyprojecting inverted 'U-bends 42 and 44 exposed above the surface of bed12. Accordingly, the wires 36 and 38 reinforce the mortar setting bed aswell as gauge its thickness. The preformed flooring units thereafter arelaid on the mortar bed and pressed into supported position on the runnerwires 36 and the cross wires 38 to predetermine a uniform exposedsurface. The flooring units also are pocketed by the inverted U-bends 42and 44 to provide for self-alignment and gauging of the mortar joint asheretofore pointed out in connection with FIGURES 1-3. Thus, a levelfloor surface and straight uniform mortar joints are formed without theaid of any particular skill.

A further pattern of the preformed flooring units 16 is illustrated inFIGURE 7 wherein each pair of flooring units is arranged in an L-shapedform. This arrangement of the flooring units 16 is obtained by equallyspac ing a series of three inverted U-bends 44 along each cross wire 38and by similarly equally spacing a series of three inverted U-bends 42along each runner wire 36. The spacing between both series of invertedU-bends 42 along each runner wire 36. The spacing between both series ofinverted U-bends will be equal to twice the distance between theindividual U-bends 42 and 44 which compose the series.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the mat assembly illustrated therein issubstantially identical to the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 4-6.The difference in this form of the invention resides in the fact thatthe runner wires 36 are provided with vertically standing U-bends 48which are elongated and are of greater length than the U-bends 40 inorder to accommodate a sub-bed 50 of sand, earth fill or wet concreteunder the mortar setting bed 12. To insure adequate rigidity in theU-bends 48, a preferably fiat circular disk 52 provided with a centralelongated opening 54 for receiving the legs 56 of the U-bend 48 isprovided. This disk 52 is normally joined to the U- bend 48 at thedesired height of the surface of the subbed of sand as by welding orother suitable means. Thus the disks 52 gauge the depth of the sub-bedof sand, the mat wires gauge the thickness of the setting bed 12 abovesub-bed and perform the other functions described in connection with theembodiment of FIGURES 4 through 6.

FIGURE 9 illustrates an alternate method of increasing the rigidity ofthe U-bends 48 illustrated in FIGURE 8. In this embodiment a straightsheet metal angle iron 58 of suitable gauge and size is disposed withone web face lying against and joined as by welding or other suitablemeans transversely across the legs 56 of the U-bends 48. As a result theangle irons extend parallel to runner wires 36 and the other web lies ata level to gauge the surface of the sand sub-bed 50.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embrace therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States LettersPatent is:

l. A composite floor structure arranged to be formed over a base surfaceand comprising a mortar setting bed; a series of patterned preformedflooring units set on said bed in spaced relation to the bottom of saidbed forming a planar exposed floor surface; and means supporting saidflooring units and reinforcing said mortar bed comprising a plurality ofspaced apart, parallel, rod-like runner wires having a plurality ofintegral vertically depending upwardly facing U-bends spaced equallyapart and a plurality of spaced apart, parallel, rod-like cross wiresextending transversely of said runner Wires and joined thereto betweenand connecting the upper portions of adjacent legs formed by saidupwardly facing U-bends, said cross wires being in the same horizontalplane as said runner wires and forming therewith a reinforcing meshhaving substantially equal spaces, and being free of interlock withrespect to said base surface, said depending upwardly facing U-bendssupporting said reinforcing mesh between the faces of said mortar bed,each of said runner wires and each of said cross wires having aplurality of longitudinally spaced integral inverted U-bends projectingabove said mortar bed forming respective pockets which align andposition each of said flooring units in precise side-by-side relationthereby forming uniform straight mortar joints between adjacent flooringunits.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 comprising means engaging the legsof and augmenting the rigidity of said upwardly facing U-bends.

3. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said augmenting meanscomprises individual flat plates formed with respective elongatedcentral apertures for receiving and surrounding the legs of respectiveones of said upwardly facing U-bends intermediate the extremitiesthereof to form a sub-bed depth gauge.

4. The structure defined in claim 2 wherein said augmenting meanscomprises an elongated member spanning respective aligned groups of saidU-bends and joined to the spaced legs thereof intermediate theextremities thereof to form a sub-bed depth gauge.

5. In a composite floor structure comprising a sub-bed, a mortar settingbed overlying the sub-bed and preshaped flooring units adapted to be seton said mortar setting bed and forming a planar exposed floor surface; amortar reinforcing and gauging and flooring unit positioning andaligning mat assembly embedded in said beds and including a plurality ofparallel longitudinally extending rodlike members spaced laterally apartand a plurality of parallel transversely extending rod-like membersspaced laterally apart in substantially coplanar relation to saidlongitudinally extending members and joined to said longitudinallyextending members at their points of crossing of said longitudinallyextending members to form a reinforcing mesh structure of equal areaspaces with said flooring units abuttingly res-ting on said meshstructure in overlapping relationship to the portions of said membersdelimiting said spaces, means extending away from the opposite faces ofsaid reinforcing mesh for respectively supporting said reinforcing meshbetween the faces of said mortar bed and aligning and positioning saidflooring units in predetermined spaced side by side relation to eachother to assure an even floor surface and to locate and define uniformmortar lines therebetween, said means for supporting said mesh includinga plurality of rows of substantially rigid spaced apart leg membersjoined to said mesh extending downwardly from said mesh at spacedintervals, and a plurality of substantially rigid elongated membersspanning respective aligned groups of said leg members and rigidlyjoined to said legs intermediate the extremities thereof, said elongatedmembers being substantially in planar relationship and resting on saidsub-bed so as to gauge said sub-bed.

6. A composite floor structure formed over a base surface and comprisinga mortar bed having a substantial thickness providing oppositely facingsurfaces; a series of patterned preformed flooring units set on andembedded in one surface of said mortar bed and forming a planar exposedfloor surface; and means supporting and positioning said flooring unitsin substantial spaced relation to said other surface of said mortar bedand reinforcing said mortar bed comprising a plurality of spaced apartparallel rod-like runner members, a plurality of spaced apart parallelrod-like cross members extending transversely of said runner members andjoined thereto, said rod-like cross members and said rod-like runnermembers being in substantially coplanar relationship and forming areinforcing mesh structure of substantially equal area spaces with eachof said flooring units abuttingly resting on said mesh structure inoverlapping relation to the portions of said rod-like members delimitingsaid spaces; means adapted to non-interlockingly contact said basesurface and position said mesh structure in said mortar bed inpredetermined spaced relation to said other surface of said mortar bedto gauge said mortar bed 7 thickness; and means fixed to and projectingabove said mesh structure and said mortar bed forming respective pocketswhich align and position each of said flooring units in preciseside-by-side patterned relation thereby forming uniform straight mortarjoints between adjacent flooring units.

7. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said aligning meanscomprises vertically upstanding members having a predetermined lateraldimension fixedly joined to said mesh structural unit at theintersection of said rodlike members.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said aligning meanscomprises inverted U-shaped wire-like elements having a pair of parallellegs connected by a curved portion and said legs respectively abut theopposing side faces of adjacent flooring units to form aligning pocketsfor each of said flooring units.

9. The structure defined in claim 6 wherein said mesh supporting meanscomprises vertically depending U-bends formed integrally with respectiveones of said parallel redlike members at longitudinally spacedintervals.

10. The structure defined in claim 9 wherein said transverse membersextend between the upper portions of the legs formed by said dependingU-bends and are fixedly secured thereto for positioning and supportingsaid transverse members in the same horizontal plane with said parallelmembers.

11. A composite floor structure formed, over a base surface andcomprising: a relatively thick mortar bed having oppoistely facingsurfaces; a series of preformed flooring units set on and embedded inone surface of said mortar bed and forming an exposed planar floorsurface; and means supporting said flooring units in substantial spacedrelation to the other of said surfaces of said mortar bed andstructurally reinforcing said mortar setting bed comprising a series ofparallel spaced apart rod-like runner members and a series of parallelspaced apart rod-like cross members extending transversely of saidrunner members and being joined thereto, said cross members and saidrunner members being in substantially coplanar relationship and forminga reinforcing mesh structure of substantially equal area spaces withsaid flooring units seated on said mesh structure in overlappingrelation to the portions of said members delimiting said spaces so thatsaid flooring units are completely above said portions of said meshstructure, means fixed to said mesh structure and adapted to contactsaid base surfs to position said mesh structure between said surfaces ofsaid mortar bed, and pocket forming means fixed to said mesh structureand projecting above said mesh structure and said mortar setting bed,said last-mentioned means positioning and aligning said flooring unitsin side-by-side uniform spaced relationship with one another tofacilitate the formation of neat mortar joints by introduction of mortarbetween opposed sides of adjacent aligned flooring units with thepatterns in which said flooring units are selectively arrangeable beingdependent solely upon the location of said pocket forming means.

12. The composite floor structure defined in claim 11 wherein saidpocket forming means comprises elements joined to said reinforcing meshstructure at selected intersections of said runner members and saidcross members, the upper extremities of said elements projecting abovesaid mortar bed abutting opposing side faces of adjacently disposed onesof said flooring units.

13. The composite floor structure defined in claim 11 wherein saidpocket forming means comprises a plurality of inverted U-shaped spacersupports joined to said reinforcing mesh structure at selectedintersections of said runner members and said cross members.

14. The composite floor structure defined in claim 13 wherein saidinverted U-shaped spacer supports each comprises a pair of laterallyspaced upstanding legs respectively disposed on opposite sides of thereinforcing mesh structure intersection associated therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS459,014 Miles Sept. 8, 1891 1,510,516 White Oct. 7, 1924 1,672,176Schumacher et al. June 5, 1928 1,932,274 Kublanow Oct. 24, 19332,022,363 Vertuno Nov. 26, 1935 2,124,799 Specht July 26, 1938 2,228,387Edge et a1. Jan. 14, 1941 2,783,695 De Canio Mar. 5, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 520,481 Germany of 1931 871,121 France of 1942 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 148,482 September15, 1964 John D. Neale It is hereby; certified that error appears in theabove numbered patent requiring correction and that the said LettersPatent should read as corrected below.

Column 5, lines 14 to 16, strike out "The spacing between bothseries ofinverted U-bends 42 along each runner wire 36.".

Signed and sealed this 5th day of January 1965.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J.. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

6. A COMPOSITE FLOOR STRUCTURE FORMED OVER A BASE SURFACE AND COMPRISING A MORTAR BED HAVING A SUBSTANTIAL THICKNESS PROVIDING OPPOSITELY FACING SURFACES; A SERIES OF PATTERNED PREFORMED FLOORING UNITS SET ON AND EMBEDDED IN ONE SURFACE OF SAID MORTAR BED AND FORMING A PLANAR EXPOSED FLOOR SURFACE; AND MEANS SUPPORTING AND POSITIONING SAID FLOORING UNITS IN SUBSTANTIAL SPACED RELATION TO SAID OTHER SURFACE OF SAID MORTAR BED AND REINFORCING SAID MORTAR BED COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART PARALLEL ROD-LIKE RUNNER MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART PARALLEL ROD-LIKE CROSS MEMBERS EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF SAID RUNNER MEMBERS AND JOINED THERETO, SAID ROD-LIKE CROSS MEMBERS AND SAID ROD-LIKE RUNNER MEMBERS BEING IN SUBSTANTIALLY COPLANAR RELATIONSHIP AND FORMING A REINFORCING MESH STRUCTURE OF SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL AREA SPACES WITH EACH OF SAID FLOORING UNITS ABUTTINGLY RESTING ON SAID MESH STRUCTURE IN OVERLAPPING RELATION TO THE PORTIONS OF SAID ROD-LIKE MEMBERS DELIMITING SAID SPACES; MEANS ADAPTED TO NON-INTERLOCKINGLY CONTACT SAID BASE SURFACE AND POSITION SAID MESH STRUCTURE IN SAID MORTAR BED IN PREDETERMINED SPACED RELATION TO SAID OTHER SURFACE OF SAID MORTAR BED TO GAUGE SAID MORTAR BED THICKNESS; AND MEANS FIXED TO AND PROJECTING ABOVE SAID MESH STRUCTURE AND SAID MORTAR BED FORMING RESPECTIVE POCKETS WHICH ALIGN AND POSITION EACH OF SAID FLOORING UNITS IN PRECISE SIDE-BY-SIDE PATTERNED RELATION THEREBY FORMING UNIFORM STRAIGHT MORTAR JOINTS BETWEEN ADJACENT FLOORING UNITS. 